The Indian government’s promise to offer “power for all” has been a can constantly kicked down the road. However, as a string of elections draw closer, various state governments seem to be stepping up their performance. No wonder, most poll-bound states now claim stellar progress in urban electrification.

A presentation from the central power ministry, following a review meeting held on Feb. 12, showed that Rajasthan, Karnataka, Meghalaya, and Tripura have electrified all pending urban...